I guess you should get/read this from a completeist point of view. It's admitted fan service, and unfortunately reads like mediocre fan fic. Plot is a stretch, even for the Incarnation universe.

I rate it "Meh." ( )

Time to reread..2018 Again, I read reviews before reading and then read and found my personal opinion differs. People get their tails in a knot over stuff in books as if it is real. How can you get all up in arms about a story of another world and time where pedophilia is normal and then watch a TV series like Dexter where the lead character is a serial killer. Books are to explore strange new worlds, to go where...no that's another story...where was I...ah yes. Upshot, there not not too much graphic sex, there was no description of pedophilia just the knowledge that a man preferred young boys and the total acceptance by the heroine as if it was normal. So many reviewers get all bent out of shape about their personal stuff like feminism that they totally miss the book. This one was fine. Not as good a On a Pale Horse and the other first five but readable. ( )

If I didn't read the author's comments at the end, I would swear that someone else wrote this book and they just published it with Anthony's name on the cover.

The bits that I liked could have been condensed to a short story. And there was way too much sex (can there be such a thing? Why yes -- proven here). ( )

Under A Velvet Cloak

Twenty years ago I read one of the most influential book series of my lifetime. In recent years I learned that a new chapter had been created. The original Incarnations of Immortality, written by Piers Anthony, was a seven book package of awesomeness. In 2007, an eighth book was written. Created entirely due to readership demand and some amazing collaborative efforts by the author and a handful of dedicated fans, the final book in Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality left me satisfied though a little ambivalent.

Readers who are fanatical for the Incarnations of Immortality should investigate this immediately. It's worth reading in my opinion, though mixed reviews are to be had. This is a highly sexualized novel, and is dissimilar to the other novels in much the same way as the others differed in style and presentation. The full cast of characters is there and you have basically all the answers you have been wanting. Not a fanatic? You can skip it with no concern. Dont want to risk muddling your fond memories on a 20 ish years in the making sequel? Then skip it, no harm no foul.

I fall into the fanatic camp. I describe the plot of the series to anyone who will listen, and can instantly bond with others who read then (I love you Jenn). I commonly think of Nox and Eris, contemplating loose ties. I never to this day have truely forgiven a woman who swimped my copy of 'On a pale horse' and wrote 'property of' her name in the cover.

I am not sure how much I have to say here. I have opinions.

Was it good? Well of course. Piers Anthony is a great writer. The authors note about the writing and concept was fascination. The book was amazing.

Is it for everyone? No. Absolutely not. People uncomfortable with sex should avoid this. Seriously. It is like reading Pornucopia part III (yes, there is a second P-copia). Most important conversations take place during or post coitus in this novel. Detailed but not to the point of indecency, sex is used as a tool in the cultivation and diplomacy of mankinds existence. Especially hard to read is opening sequences which detail the analytical breakdown and sexual awakening of (at that time in the story) the fourteen year old protagonist. Context must be kept. Historical timeline and such make this timing appropriate and not out if the norm. It never borders lewdness, staying fairly clinical and detached.. But still difficult to get past with modern perspectives in place. Also, I would not categorize this regarding the topic of feminism, you will find it can be argued both directions as there are many blurred lines.

This was not my favorite book of the series. I would probably not read it again, not because of it's quality. It's ship only needed to sail once to reach the right destination. Unlike the other novels, this one is complex for the purpose of completion. It fails to have the reread value of the others because it is designed to fill the gaps that caused one to scratch repeatedly the surface of the others.

I greatly appreciate closure to what felt like an incomplete story for a large portion of my life. I always wanted a Nox tale. Chaos deserved a voice in the Piers Anthony universe and has finally received it. ( )

I received this book for Christmas last year, and started it right away. And struggled to get into it. Piers Anthony was my favorite author as a kid/teen/young adult, and the Incarnations series has been a favorite of mine for years. I was thrilled when this book came out, and was even happier when I finally got my hands on a copy.

That being said... the book was just disappointing. In my mind, there are a lot of reasons for that. A lot of it was just rehashed from earlier Incarnation books, a lot of it was just weird things that really didn't make much sense, a lot of it was sex every 4 pages (not always terribly graphic sex, and Anthony always did have a lot of sex in his books, but this book was to the extreme). A lot of it was the overly complicated time lines, that seemed to exist just to stretch out the book & make it longer.

All in all... I have to say, I had to force myself to finish reading the book, and I did so only my skimming most of the second half. Normally I keep any Anthony books on my shelves as a permanent fixture, but this one I'll list on my paperbackbookswap.com account. ( )