Millie, a ghost for 800 years wants only one man--Jonathan, and he's a zombie. To prove himself, Magician Dor volunteers to get the potion that can...
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reviews
Dec 30, 2011
David
rated it: 
This is the third of the Xanth series. Now, I was not inclinded to write any more regarding the books in this series because, to be honest with you, there is probably not much more to write beyond the basic plot of the story, however I felt that maybe I should put at least a little comment into the review part of this book, despite the fact that there really isn't all that much to review.
Probably the reason why I ended up reading a lot of the Xanth books was because there were readily ava More...
Probably the reason why I ended up reading a lot of the Xanth books was because there were readily ava More...
Aug 07, 2011
Marta
rated it: 
So, the third book of the Xanth series (so far) I've liked the best. The plot line was interesting, the characters likable (I rather dislike Bink of the first two books). Most appealing of the character list to me seemed Jumper the Spider of unusual proportions.
I do have problems at times with the way the author illustrates women in his world of Xanth. Millie the Ghost was annoying in her role of parody damsel in distress. (but noes, Xanth is not sexist at all)
Also, I'm unsur More...
I do have problems at times with the way the author illustrates women in his world of Xanth. Millie the Ghost was annoying in her role of parody damsel in distress. (but noes, Xanth is not sexist at all)
Also, I'm unsur More...
Jan 17, 2009
Mary
rated it: 
This is the third in the Xanth series which I began rereading last year. Dor, Bink and Chameleon's son, is now age twelve and realizes that he's attracted to his nurse Millie the (former) ghost. She's unhappy (and a few centuries too old for Dor, but her talent is sex appeal so there you go), and Dor is a restless almost-teenager. King Trent suggests that what Dor needs is a quest, so Dor and Grundy the (former) Golem go off to Good Magician Humphrey's castle for their directions.
I'd f More...
I'd f More...
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Sep 06, 2011
Moonstar326
rated it:
This book, the 3rd in the series, is one of my favorites. I enjoy the puns and silliness of the book, as well as the gore and quest objective.
The characters are interesting. I didn't particularly like how Millie was the silly air-headed maiden. I liked her when she was sweet, mature, and a strong young (ish) women. I DO like the character Dor plays in this, as the young, experienced kid expected to play the role of a grown-up hero. And I love Jumper.
I found the first 2 books to be More...
The characters are interesting. I didn't particularly like how Millie was the silly air-headed maiden. I liked her when she was sweet, mature, and a strong young (ish) women. I DO like the character Dor plays in this, as the young, experienced kid expected to play the role of a grown-up hero. And I love Jumper.
I found the first 2 books to be More...
Nov 01, 2011
Raygun
rated it:
I've really like this series so far and this book was definitely a good one... it took me a little bit to get into it because unlike the previous books about Bink this one is about his son Dor and so you had to go through introductions and getting to know him and he's basically a wimpy 12 year old boy which I really can't relate to so I had some trouble with that until he finally decides to go off on his adventure to become a man... I have to admit that it was Jumper the spider that made the sto
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Feb 02, 2010
Nicholas
rated it:
Pretty cool the way Anthony kept his world awesome and interesting and yet the books were still very different (unlike another fantasy series *cough* Harry Potter *cough*) from one another. Each book is pretty different but still similar enough that it doesn't alienate the reader - which I love.
The kid getting trapped inside a mans body with all of the sexual tension that goes along with this fit pretty well into my being a kid and reading this. I liked it a lot but I was rooting for More...
The kid getting trapped inside a mans body with all of the sexual tension that goes along with this fit pretty well into my being a kid and reading this. I liked it a lot but I was rooting for More...
Jul 15, 2009
Brianne
rated it:
The third installment was much like the first book. As the story is told from the perspective of Bink's son Dor. It's good where you don't necessarily have to read the first two books to understand it.
Dor suffers much from the same problems that Bink did. Bink suffered from lack of magic even though he was strong and intelligent. Dor suffers from lack of strength even though he's had magician caliber magic and become an outcast because of it. The thing he struggles with more is his More...
Dor suffers much from the same problems that Bink did. Bink suffered from lack of magic even though he was strong and intelligent. Dor suffers from lack of strength even though he's had magician caliber magic and become an outcast because of it. The thing he struggles with more is his More...
Jun 14, 2011
Jenn
rated it:
I needed something light & fast & easy after my last one so I picked this. #3 of Xanth series - Included: Liberal sprinklings of puns, heavy sprinklings of internal musings (pretty advanced ones for a 12 yr. old), life lessons, action & adventure, time travel, history, and a really big spider named Jumper. I liked him better than the main character Dor. I am remembering why I stopped reading this series - each book seems so uneven. I like parts but overall? I can do without reading it. Good
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Jan 07, 2009
Pbnray
rated it:
i first discovered this series in high school for a book report... where i read demons dont dream. i found the book a couple years ago and was like hey i liked this book in high school ill read it again... and liked it again... after some research i found out it was the 16th book in a series of over 30 books... i was like... i will conquer this series... Piers Anthony's series is fun to read though not that memorable... the series does build on each book... so im excited to see where it'll go in
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Dec 08, 2010
Austin
rated it: 
Castle Roogna was an amazing, and wonderful contribution to the Xanth novels. This book takes place in a tapestry of Xanth where Binks child goes on a quest to help the first king of xanth, King Roogna. Occompanied by a giant spider also from the present xanth, he finds things that he wouldn't be able to find in a history book. For instants he meets King Roogna and he is more powerful than he ever imagined. This book is filled with twists and surprises that leaves you on the edge of your seat ti
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Feb 10, 2010
Bryan
rated it:
Castle Roogna is third in the Xanth series, and actually a better book than its predecessor (The Source of Magic) but not up to the standard of the initial Xanth debut (A Spell for Chameleon).
I really enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, seeing how Xanth developed in earlier times. I liked the character of Jumper.
Con: Once again, extremely sexist. But it's light entertainment, and I'm not reading this to obtain my sense of morality.
Also: I saw the plot More...
I really enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, seeing how Xanth developed in earlier times. I liked the character of Jumper.
Con: Once again, extremely sexist. But it's light entertainment, and I'm not reading this to obtain my sense of morality.
Also: I saw the plot More...
May 29, 2009
Andrew
rated it:
The Third Book in the Xanth Saga by Piers Anthony, Castle Roogna changes the main character from Bink to his son, Dor who's now 12. This book is much of the same as before but instead of being a quest-oriented book like its predecessor, it harkens back to the first book as a journey of self-discovery. Through this book, the reader learns a bit more about the history of Xanth and how things came to be. It's a great book if you love the world which Anthony has created and want to dive deeper in
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Jul 28, 2011
I love the characters and their unique talents. Reading these books really takes me back to when I loved reading as a kid. I'm surprised at how much of these stories I remember. The one complaint about this book that I had though is that I was expecting another confrontation at the end of the story between Dor and the bullies from the beginning. If that were added, it would have shown how much he matured before his quest.
Feb 20, 2011
Carole
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 11, 2010
Akira
rated it:
This book is a continuation of the Xanth series that will leave you asking for more. As Bing gets older and stays more within the walls of a castle than out crusading, who better to take his place than his son. A young magician whos magic is quite ptent, but hardly the match for a town bully. What will Dor decide once he finds a way to get out of this life, and into the life of a bold warrior.
Aug 12, 2009
Arlene
rated it:
My favorite of all of the Xanth books still, and the only spider I have ever liked aside from Charlotte! (I remembered -- he was a jumping spider and he was called Jumper.)
I am starting on the Great Cataloging Project. I am taking all of my lists of books read ince 1983 and transferring them to Goodreads. This should keep me out of touble for awhile!
I am starting on the Great Cataloging Project. I am taking all of my lists of books read ince 1983 and transferring them to Goodreads. This should keep me out of touble for awhile!
Jul 28, 2011
We meet Dor in this book, son of Bink and Chameleon. Dor travels back in time through a tapestry to obtain a restoring elixir to help Millie's true love, Jonathon the zombie, become human again. A lot of previous things come together in this book, like the reason the Gap is forgotten, etc.
A fun read to get lost in!!
A fun read to get lost in!!
Aug 29, 2010
Kathy
rated it:
I’ve been meaning to read Piers Anthony’s Xanth series for decades now…and…I am enjoying it. At least once I’ve gotten at least 1/3 of the way in to the story. The writing feels so juvenile but Anthony has such a unique way of presenting and upending our view of our own culture and its attendant myths and fairy tales.
Sep 06, 2009
Holly
rated it:
Another silly Xanth book, from the halcyon days before the series turned into a moldy piece of bread. Anyway, this one gets extra points for featuring a human-sized jumping spider as a sidekick, although it was much more gentlemanly than one would expect from a Phidippus. Oh well. We take what we can get.
Aug 04, 2010
Tom
rated it:
This is the third Xanth book I have read. Maybe its because I read the last two back to back but it is getting a bit repetitive in some ways. It is a good entertaining story with some new characters and some old. If you are into the Xanth series you will probably like this book too.
Mar 03, 2011
Amelia the Strange
rated it:
I thought I had read this one but it turns out I had not. I found it to be quite enjoyable. I do love traveling the land of Xanth. Castle Roogna is the third in the series and follows Dor, a twelve-year-old boy in line for the throne. Dor's magical talent is the ability to talk to inanimate objects (such as furniture, rocks, clouds). Dor is sent on a quest by the Good Magician to find a way to restore life toJonathan, a zombie. On his journey, Dor meets some wonderful characters, including Jumpe
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Apr 21, 2010
Mark
rated it:
Piers Anthony is actually quite a good author, and I would read his stuff still if it weren't for such as the occasional harpy that he throws in there. I mean, you don't see them or anything and he doesn't describe them in detail, but they are still naked on top and I just don't feel right reading a book with that imagery anymore—not that I entirely did then, either.
I like Anthony's ability to conjure a sense of the magic of the story. There really is a lot in his books. It's maybe n More...
I like Anthony's ability to conjure a sense of the magic of the story. There really is a lot in his books. It's maybe n More...
Nov 25, 2009
Brian
rated it:
I loved these books as a young adult and I'm considering introducing them to my son who is 11. I read the first 7 or 8 but soon got tired of Anthony shoehorning bad puns into everything. Or maybe I just grew up a bit. Good light fantasy.
Jul 17, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
Bink's story may be coming to a close, but Dor certainly has one in store for him. The complete opposite of Bink, Dor uses his Talent and resources to overcome a very strange obstacle and keep history the way it is/was. Fun to read.
Mar 14, 2009
Hykel
rated it:
I think this is my favorite of the series so far. I like the contrast between Dor's boy mind and this man body he is suddenly occupying. I love that his traveling companion is a spider. Very creative.
Jun 13, 2011
Jeremiah
rated it:
I didn't like this book as much as the first two in the series. Adding in the spider (which I'm deathly afraid of to begin with) just made the hero seem less heroic. Because of Jumper's actions Dor never really had any growth.
That said, it was still a quick and enjoyable read.
That said, it was still a quick and enjoyable read.
Jan 26, 2011
Phleghm
rated it:
Best Xanth book so far. Does not deserves full 5 star rating, but deserves more than 4.. Fun to read. I have literally not put the book from my hands from start to finish. Took 8 hours I believe.
Feb 07, 2009
Coral
rated it:
Not a bad book, definitely enjoyed it. If you plan on reading the Xanth series, make sure you don't mind puns. After this book they begin to get a little ridiculous.
Jul 29, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
I love this book it was absolutely amazing. I love the characters as well they are very enjoyable and this books was very easy to read. This was a fun book.
Nov 28, 2010
Marissa
rated it:
Not the best sample of writing I've experienced. The numerous things meant to be funny were in reality just stupid, and the plot was far too predictable.
