Upgrading her shape-changing abilities to lead a mission against an adversarial Demon, Squid joins a covert group disguised as traveling dancers before new friendships and a growing bond with a secret companion challenge their goals.

Wenda Woodwife has a knotty problem--her mood swings have sent her beloved husband, Prince Charming, off on Adventure. She seeks the cure from the Good Magician Humphrey, only to discover that he has a knotty problem of his own and that only Wenda Woodwife can help him.

"Piers Anthony's 37th adventure in Xanth changes the Mood to one of Doom! Kody woke up in a hospital bed, not knowing how he got there. Before his questions could be answered, he was told that he was about to undergo surgery, and that there could be some side effects.... And then he woke up again, this time in Xanth. Kody is the only person in Xanth who has not been affected by a dreadful spell that reverses how people see each other. What was adorable...

Surprise Golem has just lost her brand-new baby. The stork assigned to deliver her eagerly awaited bundle of joy has inexplicably refused to surrender it, flying off instead through a hole in the fabric of reality. Now, to track down her offsprint, Surprise must lead an ill-assorted assemblage of confederates on a desperate quest through dozens of different Xanths. But sinister, unseen forces are determined to stop her. And in order to find her child,...