Incarnations of Immortality
Another series by Piers Anthony that I really like. Each book is based on the tale of a different god or goddess. There are seven total telling the story of Time, War, Mother Earth, Death, the Fates, the Devil and God. The series is interwoven together so well, that each character has a complex and independent personality while successfully interacting with each other. The individual stories explain each person's role in the vast scheme of things and gives each a special place. Below are reviews of my three favorite of all the books, Being a Green Mother, On a Pale Horse and And Eternity.
Being a Green Mother was the first book that I read in the series. There is actually an order to them, but I don't think it's that important to read in order. This book tells the story of a young woman, Opal, who is an extremely gifted musician. A prophesy said that she would one day be the beloved of Evil. In her travels over Europe, she meets a beserker prince whom she falls in love with but he is taken away by his mad father. Soon after Opal is told by her mother, a Fate, that she is to be the next Gaia, Incarnate of Earth. As Gaia her emotions are mirrored by the weather in the world. Then she meets Natasha, a man who may or may not be the Evil that she is to love.
On a Pale Horse is actually the first book in the series and tells the story of the Incarnate of Death, a youngish man named Zane. It is said that the person who kills Death becomes Death and that is exactly what Zane does. As he sits contemplating suicide, Death walks in and Zane turns the gun on him. As he assumes his new role, Zane is immediately in conflict with Satan and must decide what method to use in order to prevent Satan from completing his plans.
And Eternity was the final book in the series and quite different from the others. The central incarnate to this book was the incarnate of Good. There was a constant battle between Good and Evil and Evil was winning because Good was asleep. Three young women went in search of a way to awaken the Incarnate of Good to fight Evil. There was Jolie, the sometime consort to Satan, Orlene, daughter of Gaia and Vita, a street-wise black girl. Together they searched earth, Purgatory and the world of the Incarnates to find the key to waking Good.
