Apoca Lips

Xanth #47

by Piers Anthony

No one’s safe when a pundemic spreads through the land of Xanth in this madcap adventure from the New York Times–bestselling author.

What’s a single prince to do when confronted with the baton of protagonism? Why, become the hero of his own story of course! And in Xanth that usually means embarking on a quest. For Prince Nolan Naga, there’s only one thing missing from his life: a wife. He needs a royal match by the time he assumes the throne. But to make sure he lands the right spouse, he must consult with the Good Magician.

After completing the three challenges necessary to see the Good Magician, Nolan learns that the ideal bride for him does exist. She is Apoca of the Lips Tribe. From the Queendom of Thanx—a matriarchy that is the opposite of Xanth—she is a formidable woman, one whose very kiss can seduce a man into love slavery. But before a happily ever after, they’ll have to team up to put an end to a curse that’s causing every baby in Xanth to be born with the same magical talent, all while navigating through a realm plagued by endless puns. It could be the end of the world as we know it . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2023

About the author

Though he spent the first four years of his life in England, Piers never returned to live in his country of birth after moving to Spain and immigrated to America at age six. After graduating with a B.A. from Goddard College, he married one of his fellow students and and spent fifteen years in an assortment of professions before he began writing fiction full-time.

Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always have to gear myself up for Xanth. He's definitely trying to improve but, ultimately, Xanth is built from misogyny. I like what he's done with Thanx, and things scattered throughout. I still very much enjoy his writing style and imagination (love the random throw-in about critics thinking he isn't imaginative, hah!) and will never stop reading his books. I usually just have to brace myself.

Unfortunately, I hated the random Covid/political allusions throughout. I read to escape. I get why he did it (and congrats on the marriage!), but... The puns are bad enough sometimes. Please, please don't make me suffer through the political/pandemic nonsense again~!

Anyway, really liked this one. It had closer to the original feel of Xanth then it has in a loong time. First five books...? Ten...? Definitely not, but much closer and more enjoyable to me than they have been in a good minute. Probably helped that it was mostly adults. Still a bit annoyed by the whole telepathy bit but... Oh well.

Loved Grossclout's part here, lol.

I am very surprised there isn't another already in the works as per usual. As soon as I read his note at the end about possibly another - like it was a question! - I was sure there was already a title and everything in the works... Huh. Well, either way, I will definitely be keeping my eye out for his next book, whether it is Xanth or otherwise.

(3.5 rounded down)

[Paula Cadle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to read these as a kid. Loved them. Had a whole set of them as paperbacks for my gifts for years. Now, as an adult, it is not as much fun. And, surprisingly, it reads like a bunch of vignettes (I don't like short stories). The puns are over the top (as expected). Someone goes to Humphrey the Good Magician for help and he will, but only if they do him a favor. That turns into mini quests with different people and different outcomes that are tied together at the end. Was a nice reminder of other books I read and enjoyed, but not for me anymore.

[John Lash · Rating 2 out of 5]

hard to stay with.

Everyone is a cri-tic. This was a tough one. I really thought the writing style was getting back to the early Xanth writing style With the last book. Boy was I wrong. My suggestion skip the middle 2/3 of the book. You won’t miss anything and you can move on to something more satisfying. Not sure at this point if I will purchase anymore Xanth books. Tired of the lack of substance in the writing.

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I said, too silly for me, but who knew that Anthony would STILL be writing Xanth books?!?! I remember reading and enjoying the first 2 or 3 in the series and references were made, I believe, to many of the books before this one.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a continuation from the Six Crystal Princess' with a two protagonists instead of one. You know the drill the main character has a reason to see the good magician and then goes on a quest gathering a motley crew of characters to aid him/her in either helping others while finding the answer to their question. Aid Zanth in some emergency, uncover a mystery, help a plethora of people along the way. And finally reach their goal.

There are some twists, he brings back characters from the earliest Zanth and Phaze novels. Which he doesn't normally do. Once a character reaches their goal they fade into the background. It was nice to see some characters from my reading past make a cameo appearance in this novel.

As usual he updates you on the past year, it takes him aproximately a year or so to finish each book. The man is nearing 90! What is rare is that he teases that there maybe a Zanth #48. I'm not holding my breath, he is getting up there. I'll take each book as it comes.

[Mandi Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, Anthony's Xanth series has become cookie-cutter narrative that is a chore to wade through. Each book starts the same way, wades through interminable puns that may or may not be relevant to where the story is, and everything devolves into focusing on what the ladies in the story look like and how doing things to them may or may not violate the Adult Conspiracy or how much someone would like to summon the stork with them.

The first few books in this series were masterworks of fiction, but the novelty of his stories wore off somewhere after the "third trilogy" (i.e. book 9). I only read them now because I've read all of the other books in the series, but each one is harder to finish. Sadly, Anthony comes across as a lecherous old man who can't think of something new to say. I know he wished to write more of his other series, and that publishers seem to only want Xanth books, but the quality of these feels like he's writing them poorly just to spite them.

[Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've read the Xanth books, you pretty much know what to expect here. I've been reading these since middle school in the 1990s so feel somewhat compelled to follow the series. However, knowing some of the... issues... that people have brought up in regards to the author, certain things in the author's writing stand out to me more and take some of the enjoyment out of the story.

[Mari Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first foray into Xanth. Initially I liked the light humorous tone of the book but it got old and tedious as the story wore on. The way the plot meandered through so many mini stories felt like a compilation of short stories more than one overarching book and not what I thought I was getting into.

[John Beyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Xanth book #47 in a series of books I’ve been reading since middle school. I use to love these books but every time a new one comes out they are harder to read. It’s hard to believe this series is still going (I kinda don’t want it to end). This was better than most of the recent Xanth books.

[William Adams]

The puns are dangerous in this series, Xanth is the longest series I ever enjoyed. Piers co-writing may just be a notch better than his stand alone humor.

[John (Hey Y'all Listen Up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have some issues with this and it's not my favorite in the series. Still, it's a fun adventure and a solid addition to this long running series.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good although I still like his earlier books better. And, all those puns!!

[Lee Entrekin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another entertaining book in the Xanth series, not the best or worst, but pun-ishing as always.

[Debby Kean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather tedious to be honest.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, it dragged a lot. It just wasn't that good.

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's not really anything new in this, the forty-seventh Xanth book, but it's not like I really expected there to be. There's another couple that gets together pretty much immediately, a lot of meta-references to the number of puns and the changes in protagonist, and not a whole lot of direction to the plot. Apoca is a Lips, a kind of being who can control people by kissing them, and her paramour is Nolan, the son of a naga and a merwoman. Also involved are a ghost, an imaginary baton that shows who the current character of focus is, and some telepathic insects. There are also puns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I'm not sure what I think of those.

[Mernie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like me a little whimsy and knew what I was getting into with Piers. I tried to get through this one. I really did. Not that I'm some solemn intellectual, but haven't yet managed to finish a Xanth.
Alas, the constant onslaught of groaners finally got me. Eye rolling at puns and innuendo is probably good ocular exercise and I do enjoy twisted wordplay but come ON. Juvenile antics & shenanigans get to be a little much by halfway through. Sure he can be smart and funny but the trite factor gets tiresome. Also, cover is way embarrassing, and, turns out, not misleading at all. Book really is as garish as advertised.