Realty Check [Paperback]

I was also not so easily convinced that the characters would figure out the puzzles so easily! The character development seemed mildly weak, they just weren't beleivable at times. Lloyd, the 13 year old is introduced as an obnoxious little punk, but within a matter of minutes it seems he grew into a wise adult. Llynn was a bit too stereotypical, even admitting that she looks for 'bad boys'. The type of girl that likes a bad boy usually doesn't know or admit that they do.

Also the book had an almost creepy sexual tension at times, as there was plenty of sexual tension not only between cousins, but also between adults and minors. A few times it just left me wondering "huh?!" There was even a bit of sexual tension between 15 year old Llynn and Grandpa!

While I felt some areas of the book left much to be desired, it was really the imaginative and mysterious qualities I was looking forward to, and it came through big time there. I've recently been on a kick looking for stories that deal with time travel, dreams, and other fantasy related subjects. The simple idea that a house has doors that can open to any city in the world is a fascinating concept, and it's those ideas that I enjoyed most about this book. I don't want to give too much away that you can't read on the back of the book, but Piers Anthony is a very creative dude with a wild imagination, so if you're a bit of a dreamer you may well enjoy the book even if you agree with my above criticisms.

Penn & Chandelle are grandparents of a wild teenage girl, so they rent a house where they could spend some time with their granddaughter. The house is quite unusual.

The backdoor opens up to different worlds, the house is conscious and stocks itself with stuff that Penn & Chandelle like. Everything from food, clothing, hobbies, interests, tv, internet, anything that they need and want.

There is a holographic window that changes setting, and the house can "travel" to different locations in the world.

Soon their wild granddaughter Lynn joins them, along with her cousin Lloyd and his dob Obsidian. Penn, Chandelle, Lynn, Lloyd & Obsidian are soon discovering the house's many secrets and mysteries...

What's the house for? What does it want from its occupants? Well I sure am not going to tell you, your going to have to read to find out. I really liked how Piers Anthony weaved the story. He doesn't give anything away and the house's purpose is revealed in the last pages.

This book is somewhat risque with sex references, its not dirty but its somewhat risque. Kinda like when movies have sexual jokes, references, etc. Like the cousin Lloyd is a little lustful for his cousin since he's almost a teenager but that is no excuse...and Lynn flashes him...if you know what I mean.

Later on they take in some strangers and there is this girl who is many years older, but she's definately an adult. Anyway this girl was looking for a job, she was lied to and then taken into white slavery, the house & the others eventually find her & help her escape.

Lloyd develops a crush on her and then the other characters agree it would be okay if she was with Lloyd in an intimate way because she has no passport, no papers, & no identity. She can't return to her city because where she comes from its considered a cultural disgrace, even if it was not the girl's fault that she ended up in white slavery.

That was so sad to read but still I don't think that the characters should have agreed that it would be okay if she was intimate with Lloyd, after all he's a minor!!

I only recommend it for older teens & adults but its not something that I would read again, I think that Piers Anthony went too far in this book with the sexual risque situations.