With a Tangled Skein

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. ( )

INCARNATIONS OF IMMORTALITY

#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 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. ( )

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 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. ( )

This series is definitely very YA. They are easy reads but enjoyable. A very unique concept. ( )