Luck of the Draw (Xanth novel)
| Author | Piers Anthony |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Julie Dillon |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | TOR Books |
|
Publication date
|
December, 2012 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 350 |
| ISBN | 978-0-7653-3135-9 |
| Preceded by | Well-Tempered Clavicle |
| Followed by | Esrever Doom |
Luck of the Draw is the 36th book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.
Plot summary
Bryce, an 80-year-old human in poor health, is transported to Xanth and magically restored to his fit 21-year-old self. He has been drawn to Xanth to participate in a quest to win the hand of young Princess Harmony as part of a Demon wager. Bryce has no interest in marrying but a love spell has been cast on him to compel his participation. To aid him, Bryce has been given the gift of second sight (foresight of an event a few seconds into the future) and a magic tablet. Items drawn on the tablet are able to take three-dimensional shape.
There are five other suitors for the Princess' hand: Lucky, a youth whose talent is good fortune; Arsenal, a combat expert; Piper, who can be either man or monster; D Pose; a demon who seeks to conquer Xanth by marrying the Princess; and Anna Moly ("Anomaly"), whose talent is to cause the unexpected to happen. (Anna is acting on behalf of her brother, Justin.) All six suitors cooperate in a quest to find a suitable gift that will cause the princess to choose them to marry. They are accompanied on their quest by Mindy, a 20-year-old Mundane who attempted suicide before coming to Xanth.
Bryce, despite his rejuvenation, is still mentally an octagenarian. Even though he's had a love spell placed on him, he is determined to resist marriage to someone the same age as his granddaughter. Harmony has no interest in being compelled to marry anyone because of a Demon wager, but especially not a cranky old Mundane.
External links
- About Luck of the Draw and the Xanth series at the publisher's official website
- Author's plot summary. "Piers Anthony's Newsletter." November 2010. 4 Feb 2013 <http://www.hipiers.com/10nov.html.>
