"A Shadow on the Glass" by Ian Irvine is a high fantasy novel that follows the story of characters like Karan and Llian as they navigate a world with complex interwoven races and magical elements. The plot is filled with twists and turns, and the world-building by Irvine is highly praised. The story revolves around the mystery of the Forbidding, a magical shield trapping different races on the same planet, all seeking a way to break free. The characters are well-developed, and the writing style improves as the series progresses, making it thematically complex and original.

Characters:

The characters are well-rounded, flawed, and face significant moral dilemmas, contributing to a richer understanding of their motivations.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is descriptive, sometimes overly detailed, and may include archaic language, though it becomes more polished as the series progresses.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a complex narrative centered on a magical barrier trapping various races and their quest for freedom through the discovery of a significant magical artifact.

Setting:

The setting encompasses a detailed fantasy world with intricate historical backgrounds and political dynamics.

Pacing:

Pacing can be slow, particularly in the initial parts focusing on world-building, but some readers enjoy the detailed progression of the narrative.

It was the final night of the Graduation Telling, when the masters and students of the College of the Histories at Chanthed told the Great Tales that were the very essence of human life on Santhenar. ...

Notes:

The series consists of four novels but is not officially a quartet.

It was first published in Australia in 1998 and later in the UK and US.

The story revolves around the Forbidding, a magical barrier trapping three human races on one planet.

The main characters are Llian, a Chronicler, and Karan, a blending who steals a magical Mirror.

The world created by Irvine has complex themes, with no clear-cut good or evil characters.

Descriptions of the world's history and events are detailed, which can feel lengthy to some readers.

The first book has been noted for its flaws, but the writing improves in later books.

There are strong character arcs, with Llian and Karan facing personal growth throughout the series.

The narrative features a mix of allies and betrayals, creating tension in the plot.

Many readers have praised the world-building and character complexity, comparing it to works by George RR Martin and Robin Hobb.

The Kindle version has received criticism for numerous distracting typos and formatting issues.

Some reviewers appreciated the realistic portrayal of flawed characters with conflicting motivations.

The series offers a journey filled with heroism and struggles rather than a quick resolution to conflicts.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of war, betrayal, and violence, reflecting the book's darker elements and the hardships faced by characters.

From The Publisher:

ONCE THERE WERE THREE WORLDS, each with their own human species. Then, fleeing out of the void came a fourth species, the Charon. Desperate, and on the edge of extinction, they changed the balance between the worlds forever.

KARAN, a young sensitive with a troubled heritage, is forced to steal an ancient relic in repayment of a debt. It turns out to be the Mirror of Aachan, a twisted, deceitful thing that remembers everything it has ever seen.

At the same time, LLIAN, a brilliant chronicler, is expelled from his college for uncovering a perilous mystery. Thrown together by fate, Karan and Llian are hunted across a world at war, for the Mirror contains a secret that offers each species survival, or extinction

What can you read after
A Shadow on the Glass?

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A Shadow on the Glass

Ian Irvine

Book 4 in the series:The View from the Mirror

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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

From The Publisher:

What can you read after A Shadow on the Glass?

What can you read after
A Shadow on the Glass?