A Shadow on the Glass: A Tale of the Three Worlds

Ian Irvine

The View from the Mirror Book 1 · Santhenar Trust

About this ebook

A vengeful sorcerer. A haunted thief-girl. If she fails, she dies.

Karan, a sensitive whose family is cursed by madness, is compelled by honour to steal an ancient magical device and take it to the Magister. But it’s the treacherous Mirror of Aachan, and hidden within it is a deadly secret.

Llian, a brilliant but naïve Tale-spinner, uncovers a 3,000-year-old mystery too dangerous to be revealed and is expelled from his college. 

Thrown together by fate as they struggle to get to safety, Karan and Llian are ensnared in the machinations of immortals, the vengeance of feuding warlords and the magic of all-powerful wizards. Magic that could break Karan’s fragile mind, and corrupt Llian as he pries into the riddles of the mirror.

And if they fail the two-faced mirror will spark a millennial war, terrible as a tsunami, that will deluge the land in forbidden magic, tear nations apart, and threaten the very survival of humanity.

You won’t want to miss this truly epic fantasy series by a million-selling author. More than 2,850 five-star ratings on Goodreads.

What reviewers say about the Three Worlds books

“A compelling adventure in a landscape full of wonders.” – Locus

“A page-turner of the highest order … Formidable!” – SFX on Geomancer

“It is the most engrossing book I’ve read in years.” – Van Ikin, Sydney Morning Herald

“Readers of Eddings, Goodkind and Jordan will lap this one up.” – Starlog

“Utterly absorbing.” Stephen Davenport, Independent Weekly

“For sheer excitement, there’s just no one like Irvine.” SFX on The Destiny of the Dead

“As good as anything I have read in the fantasy genre.” – Adelaide Advertiser

Reviews and Honours for A Shadow on the Glass

Shortlisted for the 1998 Aurealis Award, Best Fantasy Novel.

US edition listed in Sciencefiction.com’s Best of 2001.

"In a world full of epic fantasy clones, this stands out as a world-building labour of love with some truly original touches." – Locus.

“A grand-scale epic fantasy that features a pair of unusual heroes and a complex world rich in history and variety.” Library Journal

“Those who like quests will enjoy A Shadow on the Glass. A recurring theme of betrayal - of people, places, and ideas - heightens the tension and increases the plot's emotional grip.” Starburst, UK

“Ian Irvine is a great find! He writes beautifully about a vast and intricate world that seems utterly real. His characters are as well drawn as any I’ve come across in fantasy.” – Kate Elliott, author of King’s Dragon

“Irvine has built a history and wonderful culture for his vivid world. His first novel vibrates with originality.” – The West Australian

Ratings and reviews

First read it in its first edition form back in '98. It was the first fantasy novel I had ever read and it is still my favourite, especially for its uniqueness (hindsight comparison), its likeable yet hateable characters and races and its distinctive Aussie flavour. Definitely worth a read...yhen read the next three in this series!!

What an epic tale! Told from many different viewpoints, each story is woven together seamlessly. Each character is memorable with their own unique abilities. The book itself is really long, giving plenty of time for lots of rich detail.

A great read, but occasionally confusing.

About the author

Ian Irvine, an Australian marine scientist, has also written 34 novels, an anthology of shorter stories, and various other short stories for children and adults.

His novels include the Three Worlds fantasy sequence (THE VIEW FROM THE MIRROR, THE WELL OF ECHOES, THE SONG OF THE TEARS and THE GATES OF GOOD AND EVIL), which has been published in many countries and translations and has sold over a million copies.

Ian's other books include a trilogy of eco-thrillers set in a world undergoing catastrophic climate change, HUMAN RITES, now in its third edition, and 12 novels for younger readers. 

                                     

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