Customer Reviews

If I Pay Thee Not In Gold

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Either of these authors could have taken the premise of this novel and given us a fine tale. Unfortunately, they got together and gave us a mediocre one.

Characters do not stay in character. Major plot changes happen near the end of the story. The main character starts as a likable, full character and ends as a wooden, shallow shadow of her earlier self. In fact, most of the main characters start as far more complete individuals than they end as.

At the middle of this book, I was almost breathless, wondering what would happen next. By the end, I was almost relieved it was over. It almost appeared that the authors lost interest in it about two-thirds of the way through and simply "wrapped it up" as quickly as possible.

This wasn't a bad book. I've read far worse. Fans of either author will find parts of it that they enjoy. If this had been a first novel by a new author, I would not have been disappointed. Unfortunately, with the names Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey on the cover, I really expected more.

This 1994 collaboration came to me used, via a friend, which I read primarily because it was available when I needed a book in hand quickly (can't be caught without reading material, now can we?). Much as I like Mercedes Lackey, this is not a book I would have bought, due to the Piers Anthony influence. I found the characters superficial, with a cumbersome and contrived sexual situation, more typical of Anthony than Lackey. I have ceased reading Anthony over the years, feeling that he has been almost a caricature of himself and extremely formulaic. I was not too surprised to discover that Lackey developed an idea/outline of Anthony's, which he then edited and added 10,000 words. I suspect I know the pages he added: there's a lot of telling, not showing, of characters' thoughts and emotions. The world is not uninteresting, and might make an intriguing role-playing game, but that's not enough to carry the book. There's lots more good fantasy out there; pass this one by.

I first read this book when I was somewhere around eight or nine, and read it off and on again a half dozen times over the next several years. I loved it! You really get a feel for who the characters are, except for the Queen, whose main personality trait seems to be evil ambition. I've read several readers' comments on how helpless and out-of-it Xylina is, but come on guys, let's not forget the girl's barely sixteen! Girls this age are not supposed to have the leadership skills and street smarts of an experienced adult. Chill out, folks! What sophomore in high school would be able to manage her own finances, dodge a politician's murder attempts, operate her own home business, and then lead an expedition across several countries, and not make a few brainless mistakes? Personally I think these characteristics of Xylina show reality ... not a lack of talent on behalf of the authors. I also liked how clear they drew the descriptions of the surroundings, i.e., Ware's home, the forest, etc. A few bad points, though; Faro seemed to warm to Xylina much too quickly, going from raw hatred to pity and compassion in what, less than a day? I was also disappointed on how sterotypically gorgeous they had to make Xylina, even if she isn't considered "pretty" by society's standards in the book. Why must it all be about big-breasted blondes? People need to get out more! Nevertheless, it's a general fun book with interesting characters and imaginitive surroundings. This is one of my all-time favorites.

I like Piers Anthony unactively, and Mercedes Lackey little at all (though I enjoyed her "Black Swan"), but this book was fun, entertaining, and a very in-depth fast read.

I'm more of a pleasure-reader than anything -- if something makes me think and cry, I'll never read it again. If something makes me smile and laugh and daydream -- and still think in the meantime -- then it's entirely worth my time.

I read to get away from the world -- and as a female, this book struck me as a terrific blend of girl-power, social issues, and romance. ^_^;; It's not as in-depth on the social issues as some more serious readers may like, it's not feminist in the sense that men are degraded, and it's not sickeningly sex-full.

No, indeed, it's a terrific girl-book for readers that like something light and entertaining.

When I first read this, I'd never heard of Piers Anthony. Later, when I reread it, I'd read a lot of his stuff. I usually enjoy both his work and Lackey's. This collaberation, however, was not that good a choice, however.

The theme and setting for the book were great, as I expected (One star). The character development, while not wonderful, was still better than many books I've read (Another star). The plot was pretty decent (A third star). Until the end. The ending of the book was one of the biggest let-downs I've ever come accross. When I picked this book up to re-read it, I remembered that I didn't like it, but not why. 4/5 of the way though the book, I still hadn't figured out why I didn't like it the first time. Then, I hit the ending. And once again, I was let down.

Considering the possibilites that this book has, I would have expected a better ending. But as it stands, it feels like someone wanted to tie a bow on the book, but was running out of space, so hurredly wrapped up all the loose ends in a great big anti-climax.

As a huge fan of Mercedes Lackey, and a one-time fan of Piers Anthony, I was eager to read this collaboration. Having read and reread many of each authors work, I was easily able to pick out the lines where each had his or her say.

Character development, I attribute to Lackey--when it did. Day to day concerns and worries, all of the little intangibles that make you believe in a character, I lay at her very accomplished feet.

References to large breasts and a trip through a suspiciously Xanth-like forest, I lay to Anthony.

Xylina is the protagonist of the story, a woman who just doesn't fit society's mold, which is fine. She alternates between being just a person (obviously Lackey's doing) and a helpless, idiotic bimbette (Anthony).

Ware is probably the most potentially interesting character, because of what he is and how he deals with it, but the character just withered away after he acchieved his goal.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, but that is only because of Lackey's mitigating effects on Anthony's bombastic writing. I may have cut my reading teeth on Anthony when I was nine, but I outgrew him but the time I was fourteen, Lackey, however, I can still look forward to.

Guess I'm a minority here as well, I recently pulled the book down for my 4th or 5th read through, I can't remember exactly when I first bought it but it's been years. I know nothing about either author, so can't judge this against their other works. I just know I really like this book, yeah maybe storyline isn't perfect but it's a fast and enjoyable read for me and after so many times it's like visiting old friends. It is probably a bit on the light side but not all books have to be "Lord of the Rings" depth. Wish I was better with words so I could defend the book from the more articulate negative reviews. I would recommend this book to people looking for a fast, enjoyable but not to deep fantasy tale.

This book was recommended to me by someone who saw I liked Wen Spencer's A Brother's Price, as having a similar setting. In Spencer's fantasy novel women lead the society, women are the soldiers and farmers, it is matrifocal, while men raise the children. Men are rare and highly valued, as a result. Spencer's book is light and fun and the oldest brother, who is about ready to be married off, has adventures. READ THAT BOOK!!!
This one one has a 16 year old girl Xylina, a magic user as the narrator. Faro (or Ware)would have been better choices. It's better storytelling to read the POV of the underdog than the Alpha Dog. Especially when the Alpha Dog whines as much as this one does. And goes through nonsensical changes.

I like this book very much but it was obvious to me that the two authors have very different styles. Mercedes Lackey is the one to write a tale that is true to Pier's original _Arabian Nights_ source. She understands desire and its physical and spiritual interactions on many complex levels (she reminds me of Anais Nin...very real and very profound). Piers understands romance and conventional heterosexual relationships. I read his novels when I want simplicity and hopeful positive feelings. I think his style is what slowed down this particular book. I wish there were a sequel written entirely by Mercedes Lackey that deals with the tri-being relationship, the shard and the babies that will result from that relationship! and that Piers Anthony would write another great Xanth novel ..oh with maybe Electra on a quest where she gets to be an adult for a change.

I'm not a big fan of collaborations - they never seem to be as good as what either author can do by him/herself. And this book is no exception. I've seen much better from both Lackey and Anthony. OK, I agree, I have read much worse fantasy than this, but I expected better from authors of their caliber. I also found Anthony's Author's Note particularly obnoxious - he describes how he basically had Lackey write a book on his idea, then finished it off by adding a beginning and ending and polishing it to his usual standards. But it's NOT up to his usual standards. Stick with either author by him/herself, you'll enjoy the reading a lot more.