Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Del Rey (1985), Edition: 1st, 280 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Science Fiction. Thriller. HTML:Here in this third complete-in-itself novel of the Incarnations of Immortality, Piers Anthony weaves a fascinating plot as tangled as any skein of fate. This is Anthony at his most ingenious, with another gripping fantasy of the struggle of the incarnations against the machinations of Satan.When the man Niobe loved was shot, she learned that she had been the target, in a devious plot of the Devil's. Hoping for revenge. Niobe accepted a position as one of the three Aspects of Fate, only to find that Satan's plots were tangled into the very Tapestry of Fate. Now the Evil One was laying a trap to ruin Niobe's granddaughter Luna, who threatened his plans�??and he had tricked her son into Hell. Niobe's only chance to save her son and Luna was to accept a challenge by the Prince of Deceit�??a challenge to be decided in Hell and in a maze of Satan's devi… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member JechtShot
In the third book of the Incarnations series, With a Tangled Skein, Piers Anthony tackles the aspect of Fate. An immortal divided into three parts: Clotho - who weaves the threads of life, Lachesis - who measures the threads and Atropos - who cuts the threads. Niobe Kaftan, the most beautiful woman
In my opinion, this book focuses more on setting the stage for future novels. We learn of a prophecy that foretells that Luna will love death (see book 1) and that Niobe's daughter Orb will love Evil and will become an incarnation (read: foreshadowing / pre-selling of later books in the series). Fate's role in this book is essentially to ensure that Luna is able achieve her seat in government 20 years hence.
I sense that the Incarnations novels are starting to lose some steam at this point, but I won't give up just yet. An entertaining read.
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of her generation, takes on the role of Clotho in her youth and later is given the opportunity to return as Lachesis. Niobe must use her powers as Fate to foil that wacky Satan and his devious plots. In my opinion, this book focuses more on setting the stage for future novels. We learn of a prophecy that foretells that Luna will love death (see book 1) and that Niobe's daughter Orb will love Evil and will become an incarnation (read: foreshadowing / pre-selling of later books in the series). Fate's role in this book is essentially to ensure that Luna is able achieve her seat in government 20 years hence.
I sense that the Incarnations novels are starting to lose some steam at this point, but I won't give up just yet. An entertaining read.
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LibraryThing member Scoshie
#3 of the Incarnations series-- Piers Anthony Knows how to write stories that not only keep your attention but keep their story thread though out all of his series. Wonderful Job
Set around the time of World War I, a young Irish (around 21-23) woman named Niobe has a marriage arranged for her by her
Set around the time of World War I, a young Irish (around 21-23) woman named Niobe has a marriage arranged for her by her
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parents. Her husband-to-be is a teenage boy (16-17) named Cedric Kaftan. She considers him too immature for her, but can find no way out of the marriage. Although Niobe at first hates being married to a "child", Cedric's good nature, kind heartedness, and desire to make his wife happy and safe win her over, and she soon falls madly in love with her husband. Cedric shows that he is an intellectual prodigy. With some prodding and nurturing from his wife as well as from his mentor, Cedric accepts a scholarship to attend college and hone his magical abilities. As he matures and finds his niche in magic and wetland studies, he and Niobe have a child: Cedric Jr. With a bright future certain, and wizardry greatness assured, life in the Kaftan house was happy indeed. Sadly a few years later, Cedric learns of a plot to kill Niobe. Seeing no way to avert it, Cedric leaves school, goes home to Niobe, hastily puts his affairs in order, and sets in motion the only way he can save his wife's life..... by taking her place. On the fateful morning, Cedric wakes up to make love to his wife one last time, kisses her goodbye and goes into the woods to face his destiny. Awakened by gunshots, Niobe learns her husband is assassinated as part of a plot by the agents of Satan. She learns not only of the plot, but that she, and not her husband, was the real target. Upon learning this, Niobe's hatred for having her husband's life cut short, makes her vow to make Satan pay. She is invited to join the Incarnation(s) of Fate, and then the problems start. Show Less
LibraryThing member rakerman
I liked the first book in this series, but the rest went awry - very odd and tiresome plotline.
LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: A repeat performance from the previous two books in the series. Character gets mixed up in supernatural business, gets a position as an Incarnation, evil tricks her, she tricks evil, it goes back and forth a bit, and in the end all is relatively well. No surprises here.
Characters: The wasted
Style: Chauvinism thick enough to cut with a knife. Boring prose and occasionally very strange logic.
Plus: It prompts some interesting thoughts, though the book itself never follows them up.
Minus: There's an overall oddness about it and it never feels like a good read.
Summary: Sorry, but no. The series jumped the shark here.
Characters: The wasted
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potential is almost painful to watch. Two-dimensional and boring, no development, no credibility. Style: Chauvinism thick enough to cut with a knife. Boring prose and occasionally very strange logic.
Plus: It prompts some interesting thoughts, though the book itself never follows them up.
Minus: There's an overall oddness about it and it never feels like a good read.
Summary: Sorry, but no. The series jumped the shark here.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
Perhaps a marginal improvement over Bearing an Hourglass, but not enough to raise the rating.
LibraryThing member Gkarlives
This is the last fun book in the Incarnations of Immortality series. I loved the interaction between the various aspects of fate and the different perspectives the main character gets from playing more than one role.
LibraryThing member Karlstar
This series starts to take a series drop off at this point. Fate must now contest against Evil to save those she used to know, even though she is now an Immortal. Unfortunately, with Time, Death and Fate all mixed in with this, it starts to feel a little implausible that they can't fix the
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situation. Still an interesting concept, but by this book it was starting to reach where the concept alone couldn't carry the books. Show Less
LibraryThing member jphillips3334
For this book, Anthony tells the tale of how the Aspect of Fate works in his Incarnations series. This is the third in the series. After tackling the office of Death and Time, he goes onto Fate. A mortal still occupies the office, but Fate works a little different. Three different mortal women make
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up the aspects of Fate (Clotho, Atropos, and Lachesis). Our heroine takes on the role of fate on two separate occasions in order to foil Satan’s grand plan, which is so intricate that it involves the mortal children of Niobe (the woman chosen to be Fate twice). As with the other books in this series, the hero/heroine must overcome obstacles both physical and mental to reach the final goal. Anthony’s characters are always tasked to use their brains more than brawn. Even with a world that uses magic on an everyday basis, it’s never used as a crutch to further the story. It’s another enjoyable book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member kawgirl
I don't know if I would have read it except someone gave me a copy of the book. I'm glad they did because I found the book entertaining. I'm still not sure I would go out of my way to read it, though.
LibraryThing member willowcove
This series is definitely very YA. They are easy reads but enjoyable. A very unique concept.
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
This story followed the typical pattern of all these books. First we get a lot of background on the main character before they are plunged into their role as an Incarnation. Here, because they are new, they are tested by Satan to see if he can get them to trip up and spoil the grand scheme to foil
It is wearing thin. Preachy, sexist and highly repetitive.
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him in some years hence. That plan always centers around Luna, girlfriend of Death, niece of Fate and cousin of the future Nature. Finally there is a test of wits, brains and brawn to foil Satan and make sure that Luna becomes a senator and can balk Satan when the time comes.It is wearing thin. Preachy, sexist and highly repetitive.
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LibraryThing member AVoraciousReader
*Book source ~ My home library
Niobe is 21 and her father finally puts his foot down and arranges a marriage for her to 16-yr-old Cedric Kaftan. No matter how much she cries and argues her father doesn’t waver in his stance, so she ends up married to Cedric. After a rocky beginning they make a go
Niobe’s life is certainly an interesting one. From her marriage to Cedric to her role as Clothos and beyond, she has a definite link to a woman who will foil Satan’s ultimate plan. No wonder he tried to take her out when she was younger. However, if he hadn’t tried to have her killed then her husband wouldn’t have taken her place and she wouldn’t have assumed the office of Clothos. Oh, what a tangled web he tries to weave…and weaving is the province of Fate. He should have just left it all alone.
This story is interesting from beginning to end and Niobe has a long long life. I did get a bit confused at the end when she has to navigate the maze, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment of the book on the whole. I can’t say any more without giving away key plot points, but I can say it’s not a dull moment. I love seeing all of the Incarnations coming together to foil Satan’s Big Plan. I’m looking forward to revisiting Book 4 which is about Mars.
Niobe is 21 and her father finally puts his foot down and arranges a marriage for her to 16-yr-old Cedric Kaftan. No matter how much she cries and argues her father doesn’t waver in his stance, so she ends up married to Cedric. After a rocky beginning they make a go
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of the marriage before Cedric is shot and killed. Niobe finds out that Cedric had taken the bullet meant for her due to an evil plan of Satan. Satan should have left things alone because now Niobe is out for revenge. Even if she has to assume an aspect of Fate she intends to make the Devil pay for taking away the man she loved.Niobe’s life is certainly an interesting one. From her marriage to Cedric to her role as Clothos and beyond, she has a definite link to a woman who will foil Satan’s ultimate plan. No wonder he tried to take her out when she was younger. However, if he hadn’t tried to have her killed then her husband wouldn’t have taken her place and she wouldn’t have assumed the office of Clothos. Oh, what a tangled web he tries to weave…and weaving is the province of Fate. He should have just left it all alone.
This story is interesting from beginning to end and Niobe has a long long life. I did get a bit confused at the end when she has to navigate the maze, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment of the book on the whole. I can’t say any more without giving away key plot points, but I can say it’s not a dull moment. I love seeing all of the Incarnations coming together to foil Satan’s Big Plan. I’m looking forward to revisiting Book 4 which is about Mars.
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LibraryThing member csweder
Less confusing that the story of Chronos (time), I really enjoyed my first delve into the realm of a female Incarnation--and actually in this case 2 Incarnations.
This is the story of Fate--or at least a woman Niobe who becomes an Aspect of Fate in her life. The story about Death may still be more
This is the story of Fate--or at least a woman Niobe who becomes an Aspect of Fate in her life. The story about Death may still be more
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interesting to me, but this was a great one! :) Show Less
LibraryThing member aharey
Niobe loses her young husband to attack by Satan. When she tries to get him back, she instead becomes an aspect of Fate. Through it all, she is determined to keep Satan from becoming all powerful.
I first read this book in the early 90s. I liked this one better than the first two of the series. Upon
I first read this book in the early 90s. I liked this one better than the first two of the series. Upon
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reading it a second time, I liked it, but not as much as I did as a young adult. If you like Piers Anthony, you will certainly like this. The misogyny gets a little tiresome after a while. Show Less
LibraryThing member Razinha
The sexist Anthony stands out in this third book of the series. I do like it still, but he could have done so much better. Still refreshing my memory for when/if I get to #8, which I've not read...
LibraryThing member M.Akter.Tonima
piers Anthony is a male chauvinist. seriously! "she knew she could weave,she was a woman". i thought i could be non-judgmental, cant help it when things keep repeating, like objectification and generalization.
LibraryThing member M.Akter.Tonima
piers Anthony is a male chauvinist. seriously! "she knew she could weave,she was a woman". i thought i could be non-judgmental, cant help it when things keep repeating, like objectification and generalization.
LibraryThing member odinblindeye
A nice addition to the Incarnations series. These are always unique to what I've read before, simply because most people cannot handle writing from the perspective of immortality. Fun and entertaining.
LibraryThing member Diana_Long_Thomas
Re-read 2018
The first of the books about the female Incarnations, this one deals with Fate in all of her aspects. I can't say much about it because there are spoilers for both the earlier books and future books in the series. My only issue is that the main character sees herself as a delicate
The first of the books about the female Incarnations, this one deals with Fate in all of her aspects. I can't say much about it because there are spoilers for both the earlier books and future books in the series. My only issue is that the main character sees herself as a delicate
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female even after assuming part of the aspect of fate. She just can't see just how tough and capable she is even when doing some bad a** things. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Locus Award (Nominee — Fantasy Novel — 1986)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1985-10
Physical description
280 p.; 8.3 inches
ISBN
0345318846 / 9780345318848