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Xanth

# 44 - Skeleton Key [SK]

There’s no dancing around a demonic threat in the fantasy world of Xanth in the New York Times–bestselling series.



Squid, the alien cuttlefish, is getting an upgrade: a boost to her shape-changing talent so she can lead a mission against a foreign Demon who’s stirring up trouble in Xanth. At Squid’s side are her rescued siblings and one very special child—Larry, a girl in a boy’s body, who will act as a secret host for their adoptive mother, the Demoness Fornax.



Aboard the Fire Boat, they form a plan to disguise themselves as a traveling dance troupe. Each child is paired up with a native Xanthian. But it’s the friendship that blossoms between Squid and Larry that will power their quest, and they’ll have to do some fancy footwork to avoid the trials and tribulations that await them.

Major Characters

Character Name Species Origin Talent Notes First Chapter Mentioned
Data Crossbreed Xanth Daughter of Dawn and Picka Bone; a calculating female 02
Piton Crossbreed Xanth Son of Dawn and Picka Bone; a chip off the old block 02
Myst Human Xanth can become a patch of mist Curly mouse brown hair, hazel eyes. Adopted by Merge and Hapless. 01
Win Human Xanth always having the wind at one`s back Adopted by Tiara and Mitch 02
Santo Human Xanth makes holes Adopted by Fornax and Nemesis, will grow up gay. 01
Squid Alien Xanth Adopted by Kandy and Ease; mock octopus. 01
Firenze Human Xanth fireworks temper Adopted by Astrid and Art, who can stifle him with a look (fir-EN-zee) 01
Noe Human Xanth girl of the swamp, noe the prettiest, smartest, luckiest girl. To be Santo`s girlfriend. Cute when cleaned up. Hair and eyes the color of hope. 01
Ula Human Xanth being useful in ways no one expects —“Sea Jewel” A lost nine year old girl they pick up—. Kadence`s host. Orange hair and eyes. 03
Hilda Human Xanth sewing garments imbued with talents 9, Hilarion’s twin daughter, talent of sewing garments imbued with talents. Dark hair 06
Ion Human Xanth immunity to all elixers 9, Ida’s twin son, talent of immunity to all elixirs. So his damaged legs could not be healed, and he must ride on a mini magic carpet. Blond hair 06
Lorelei Human Xanth change ages, but not size or mind blue/black hair and eyes, average height, unimpressive. Age 12: talent to change ages, but not size or mind. 01
Larry Human Xanth change ages, but not size or mind. blue/black hair and eyes, average height, unimpressive. Age 12: talent to change ages, but not size or mind. 01
 
KEY - Xanth Titles; so far, by the numbers: (Click on any Title for more info on that book)
1 A Spell For Chameleon [ASFC]  2 The Source Of Magic [TSOM]  3 Castle Roogna [CaR]  4 Centaur Aisle [CA] 
5 Ogre, Ogre [OO]  6 Night Mare [NM]  7 Dragon on a Pedestal [DOAP]  8 Crewel Lye [CL] 
9 Golem In The Gears [GITG]  10 Vale Of The Vole [VOTV]  11 Heaven Cent [HC]  12 Man From Mundania [MFM] 
13 Isle Of View [IOV]  14 Question Quest [QQ]  15 The Color Of Her Panties [TCOHP]  16 Demons Don't Dream [DDD] 
17 Harpy Thyme [HT]  18 Geis of the Gargoyle [GOTG]  19 Roc And A Hard Place [RAAHP]  20 Yon Ill Wind [YIW] 
21 Faun & Games [FAG]  22 Zombie Lover [ZL]  23 Xone Of Contention [XOC]  24 The Dastard [TD] 
25 Swell Foop [SF]  26 Up In a Heaval [UIAH]  27 Cube Route [CuR]  28 Currant Events [CE] 
29 Pet Peeve [PP]  30 Stork Naked [SN]  31 Air Apparent [AA]  32 Two to the Fifth [TTTF] 
33 Jumper Cable [JC]  34 Knot Gneiss [KG]  35 Well-Tempered Clavicle [WTC]  36 Luck of the Draw [LOTD] 
37 Esrever Doom [ED]  38 Board Stiff [BS]  39 Five Portraits [FP]  40 Isis Orb [IO] 
41 Ghost Writer in the Sky [GWITS]  42 Fire Sail [FS]  43 Jest Right [JR]  44 Skeleton Key [SK] 
45 A Tryst of Fate [TOF]  46 Six Crystal Princesses [SCP]  47 Apoca Lips [AL]   
Back to Xanth
Doug Harter maintains the Xanth Character Database, updating it as new books in the Xanth series are released. Thanks to Piers Anthony, for letting me see some of his Character Notes, to Peg Rombach-Riggs who did the work creating the original table, Seajay who supplied the numbers, Dawn M. Burge for suggesting and helping Origin to be accomplished, and FNProgramvare's BookCat, which I use to store the Xanth Character info.
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