With a Tangled Skein

What if death, time, fate, war, nature, evil and good were not mere concepts but offices held by actual people, like any other occupation?

Although initially opposed to her arranged marriage to a 16-year old, 21-year-old Niobe accepts and eventually grows to love her husband Cedric. When Cedric sacrifices his life in place of a death that was meant for her, Niobe, heartbroken, accepts an invitation to become Clotho, the youngest aspect of the immortal incarnation of Fate, whose responsibility it is to weave the threads in the great tapestry of life. While learning her new role, Niobe also learns that she herself has become entangled in the insidious plots of Satan, the incarnation of Evil.

While not the best of the Incarnations series, it is still a solid read - but then, the entire Incarnations series (if you don't count book 8) are all great reads. This was actually the second book I read (after Being a Green Mother, both books I read about 10 years ago) so I was a bit confused with some of the events. But now having read books 1 and 2, I can appreciate and understand this book much better.

The idea of three women having to share one body at all times is daunting. I can understand sharing it in the mortal world, but it seems that in the magical world or their home on the web, it seemed more logical to me that they should be able to separate into three bodies to conduct their respective duties more efficiently. Still, show more this is a great book, and a solid addition to the Incarnations series, with the usual mix of comedy and philosophy/thought-provoking passages (and outsmarting Satan himself). show less

*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 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 show more 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. show less

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: show more 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. show less

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 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.

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 interesting to me, but this was a great one! :)

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 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.